8 ms·

Apple's iPhone 7 rival is also off to a rocky start, seeing as how the 7 is outselling the 8.

by mmanfrin 9y ago

cbhl 9y ago
The iPhone X goes on sale on Friday, though, right?
- MBCook 9y ago
  Yes. That may have effected demand for the 8.
- Steko 9y ago
  Good luck, I expect by 12:05am the website will show delivery dates in February.
MBCook 9y ago
The 7 is a great phone and it’s cheaper now. There has been a guess at the reason: people want the X. Thought is after the reviews come out and say it’s not that great, or people try to preorder and get told they have to wait until March they may give up and buy the 8. We’ve never had a situation where there are two dates the iPhone comes out on before so we don’t know how much thats effecting demand for the 8.
- 6nf 9y ago
  Around my neck of the woods everyone I know are holding out for the X.
  - huac 9y ago
    And the people who can't wait for the X went for the 7 over the 8 (n=3)
    - danso 9y ago
      I happily went for an 8, though I had been holding on to my 6+ for awhile. I suspect the X is the way of the future but I'm betting that the first iteration of the tech (including FaceID) might be rough. The better camera and processor in the 8 was justification already. Maybe the 7 is cheaper but may be slowing down with near-future OS upgrades.
  - nunez 9y ago
    Thanks to T-Mobile JUMP, I was able to get the 8 and will get the X next week or as soon as they are avaialable. I presume that many are doing the same
    - selectodude 9y ago
      That just seems oddly wasteful.
      - deusum 9y ago
        Exchange 8 for the X and TMo refurbs and resells, perhaps.
        nunez 9y ago
        Exactly right
  - spike021 9y ago
    I decided to upgrade to the 8+ from a 6 and it hits nearly all my points except for the slight negative that the form-factor is relatively the same (irrespective of size). It's a great upgrade so far. The UI is snappy quick, the cameras on the back take amazing photos due to one having both OIS and digital stabilization, and the second also having digital stabilization. The resolution still looks good, etc. I'm pleased with not needing to wait for the X, especially with the (supposedly) low supply at launch.
- deftturtle 9y ago
  Time for some partial derivatives and supply curve modeling!
mikek 9y ago
This says more about the iPhone X than it does about the iPhone 8. Unlike problems with the Pixel, this bodes well for Apple's bottom line.
- stouset 9y ago
  I suspect not, since the X will only be available in limited quantities. My guess is that it was a mistake to not release both at the same time. If they had done that, people that couldn’t immediately order the X are likely to just go ahead and order the 8 if it isn’t that big a deal to them. But now with the 8 having been out for a month, I think a lot more people are likely to just decide to wait. Net result will be a huge drop in sales (though higher ASP). I guess we’ll see if I’m wrong many months from now, but this just seems like a huge error on their part to me.
  - matwood 9y ago
    > I think a lot more people are likely to just decide to wait. Not going to happen. I think the X is going trigger its own super cycle. People who have the 6s are waiting for it along with people who have 7 and normally would have waited. The only question is if Apple can make enough phones. They gave themselves an extra month to build supply so we'll see. Current rumors are they are already shifting iPhone 8 production over the iPhone X. My guess is every X made for the next 6 mos. (maybe more?) will be sold before it even comes off the assembly line.
    - stouset 9y ago
      You agree with me, but I don't think you realize it. I absolutely agree that many people with the iPhone 6 and 7 are likely to hold out for the iPhone X, and that is a serious problem for Apple. The entire existence of the X is predicated on the fact that it's an ultra-premium phone that they can only manufacture in limited quantities — quantities that would not be able to match expected demand for this generation of iPhone. If demand for the iPhone 8 is lagging and they literally cannot manufacture the iPhone X fast enough (even having shifted production away from the iPhone 8), the iPhone X may end up being a tactical disaster for Apple, even if every single one of them is spoken for the moment it leaves the assembly line. Apple might only be able to manufacture enough iPhone Xs to satisfy 20% of projected demand for this generation. Shifting production capacity around doesn't help much if their supply of critical components is limited (e.g., OLED displays). If they were expecting the iPhone 8 to satisfy the remaining 80% of demand but half of potential iPhone 8 buyers decide to simply wait it out, this could be an absolutely disastrous year for Apple even if their ASP shoots up by a few hundred dollars.
colinprince 9y ago
See also MixPanel's trend charts https://mixpanel.com/trends/#report/iphone_8_X https://mixpanel.com/trends/#report/iphone_8_X
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
LeoPanthera 9y ago
Apple doesn't release sales figures, on what basis are we assuming the 7 is outselling the 8?
- ProAm 9y ago
  [1] https://9to5mac.com/2017/10/20/iphone-8-versus-iphone-x/ https://9to5mac.com/2017/10/20/iphone-8-versus-iphone-x/ [2] http://bgr.com/2017/09/25/iphone-8-vs-iphone-7-launch-weekend-sales/ http://bgr.com/2017/09/25/iphone-8-vs-iphone-7-launch-weeken... [3] http://fortune.com/2017/10/23/apple-iphone-8-s-version/ http://fortune.com/2017/10/23/apple-iphone-8-s-version/
  - LeoPanthera 9y ago
    [1] "Probably are low" "We've been hearing conflicting answers" [2] "Report" says iPhone 8 is "slow selling", offers no comparison to this year's 7 sales [3] "A study suggests", and compares to 7 sales last year So in other words, no-one knows, and it's all completely speculative, from people who probably have an agenda.
    - colejohnson66 9y ago
      The agenda being to drive ad revenue by reporting on speculation
    - ProAm 9y ago
      Where there is smoke there is fire. Just like most rumors/leaks are true, just how everyone knew Travis was getting canned from Uber weeks before it was announced... all speculation but is rarely wrong. I guess we'll see at the earnings report. But this is the first time in the history that we haven't heard of the new iPhone flying off the shelfs, about serious back orders, etc...
      - karmelapple 9y ago
        The iPhone X is coming though - aren’t many people simply waiting to check that out?
bdcravens 9y ago
8 really isn't the 7's rival; the X is. The 7 and 8 are similar enough that if those are your choices, you'd naturally go to the phone that is $100 cheaper.
threeseed 9y ago
Anyone who thinks the iPhone 8 is bad for Apple clearly doesn’t get it. Apple is about to move a significant proportion of their users to a higher price point and higher margin phone.
nunez 9y ago
Not a surprise if true given that Apple predicted slower than normal 8 sales in anticipation of the sonic boom that will be the X

Apple's iPhone 7 rival is also off to a rocky start, seeing as how the 7 is outselling the 8.

cbhl 9y ago

The iPhone X goes on sale on Friday, though, right?

MBCook 9y ago
Yes. That may have effected demand for the 8.
Steko 9y ago
Good luck, I expect by 12:05am the website will show delivery dates in February.

MBCook 9y ago

The 7 is a great phone and it’s cheaper now. There has been a guess at the reason: people want the X. Thought is after the reviews come out and say it’s not that great, or people try to preorder and get told they have to wait until March they may give up and buy the 8. We’ve never had a situation where there are two dates the iPhone comes out on before so we don’t know how much thats effecting demand for the 8.

6nf 9y ago
Around my neck of the woods everyone I know are holding out for the X.
- huac 9y ago
  And the people who can't wait for the X went for the 7 over the 8 (n=3)
  - danso 9y ago
    I happily went for an 8, though I had been holding on to my 6+ for awhile. I suspect the X is the way of the future but I'm betting that the first iteration of the tech (including FaceID) might be rough. The better camera and processor in the 8 was justification already. Maybe the 7 is cheaper but may be slowing down with near-future OS upgrades.
- nunez 9y ago
  Thanks to T-Mobile JUMP, I was able to get the 8 and will get the X next week or as soon as they are avaialable. I presume that many are doing the same
  - selectodude 9y ago
    That just seems oddly wasteful.
    - deusum 9y ago
      Exchange 8 for the X and TMo refurbs and resells, perhaps.
      - nunez 9y ago
        Exactly right
- spike021 9y ago
  I decided to upgrade to the 8+ from a 6 and it hits nearly all my points except for the slight negative that the form-factor is relatively the same (irrespective of size). It's a great upgrade so far. The UI is snappy quick, the cameras on the back take amazing photos due to one having both OIS and digital stabilization, and the second also having digital stabilization. The resolution still looks good, etc. I'm pleased with not needing to wait for the X, especially with the (supposedly) low supply at launch.
deftturtle 9y ago
Time for some partial derivatives and supply curve modeling!

mikek 9y ago

This says more about the iPhone X than it does about the iPhone 8. Unlike problems with the Pixel, this bodes well for Apple's bottom line.

stouset 9y ago
I suspect not, since the X will only be available in limited quantities. My guess is that it was a mistake to not release both at the same time. If they had done that, people that couldn’t immediately order the X are likely to just go ahead and order the 8 if it isn’t that big a deal to them. But now with the 8 having been out for a month, I think a lot more people are likely to just decide to wait. Net result will be a huge drop in sales (though higher ASP). I guess we’ll see if I’m wrong many months from now, but this just seems like a huge error on their part to me.
- matwood 9y ago
  > I think a lot more people are likely to just decide to wait. Not going to happen. I think the X is going trigger its own super cycle. People who have the 6s are waiting for it along with people who have 7 and normally would have waited. The only question is if Apple can make enough phones. They gave themselves an extra month to build supply so we'll see. Current rumors are they are already shifting iPhone 8 production over the iPhone X. My guess is every X made for the next 6 mos. (maybe more?) will be sold before it even comes off the assembly line.
  - stouset 9y ago
    You agree with me, but I don't think you realize it. I absolutely agree that many people with the iPhone 6 and 7 are likely to hold out for the iPhone X, and that is a serious problem for Apple. The entire existence of the X is predicated on the fact that it's an ultra-premium phone that they can only manufacture in limited quantities — quantities that would not be able to match expected demand for this generation of iPhone. If demand for the iPhone 8 is lagging and they literally cannot manufacture the iPhone X fast enough (even having shifted production away from the iPhone 8), the iPhone X may end up being a tactical disaster for Apple, even if every single one of them is spoken for the moment it leaves the assembly line. Apple might only be able to manufacture enough iPhone Xs to satisfy 20% of projected demand for this generation. Shifting production capacity around doesn't help much if their supply of critical components is limited (e.g., OLED displays). If they were expecting the iPhone 8 to satisfy the remaining 80% of demand but half of potential iPhone 8 buyers decide to simply wait it out, this could be an absolutely disastrous year for Apple even if their ASP shoots up by a few hundred dollars.

colinprince 9y ago

See also MixPanel's trend charts https://mixpanel.com/trends/#report/iphone_8_X https://mixpanel.com/trends/#report/iphone_8_X

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

LeoPanthera 9y ago

Apple doesn't release sales figures, on what basis are we assuming the 7 is outselling the 8?

ProAm 9y ago
[1] https://9to5mac.com/2017/10/20/iphone-8-versus-iphone-x/ https://9to5mac.com/2017/10/20/iphone-8-versus-iphone-x/ [2] http://bgr.com/2017/09/25/iphone-8-vs-iphone-7-launch-weekend-sales/ http://bgr.com/2017/09/25/iphone-8-vs-iphone-7-launch-weeken... [3] http://fortune.com/2017/10/23/apple-iphone-8-s-version/ http://fortune.com/2017/10/23/apple-iphone-8-s-version/
- LeoPanthera 9y ago
  [1] "Probably are low" "We've been hearing conflicting answers" [2] "Report" says iPhone 8 is "slow selling", offers no comparison to this year's 7 sales [3] "A study suggests", and compares to 7 sales last year So in other words, no-one knows, and it's all completely speculative, from people who probably have an agenda.
  - colejohnson66 9y ago
    The agenda being to drive ad revenue by reporting on speculation
  - ProAm 9y ago
    Where there is smoke there is fire. Just like most rumors/leaks are true, just how everyone knew Travis was getting canned from Uber weeks before it was announced... all speculation but is rarely wrong. I guess we'll see at the earnings report. But this is the first time in the history that we haven't heard of the new iPhone flying off the shelfs, about serious back orders, etc...
    - karmelapple 9y ago
      The iPhone X is coming though - aren’t many people simply waiting to check that out?

bdcravens 9y ago

8 really isn't the 7's rival; the X is. The 7 and 8 are similar enough that if those are your choices, you'd naturally go to the phone that is $100 cheaper.

threeseed 9y ago

Anyone who thinks the iPhone 8 is bad for Apple clearly doesn’t get it. Apple is about to move a significant proportion of their users to a higher price point and higher margin phone.

nunez 9y ago

Not a surprise if true given that Apple predicted slower than normal 8 sales in anticipation of the sonic boom that will be the X